PSA: Using console commands in Oblivion Remastered will disable achievements

Yes, you read that right! Your trusty console commands in Oblivion Remastered come with a catch — they disable achievements. Console commands have been a lifeline for years, helping players wiggle out of the bugs and glitches that are practically a trademark of these sprawling RPGs. But in this remastered version, typing in those handy codes means you can say goodbye to earning those shiny achievement badges.

For veterans of Bethesda games, console commands are often seen as a necessary tool. These games, while beloved, are known for their occasional, sometimes game-breaking, bugs. Getting stuck in geometry, finding an essential NPC unresponsive, or encountering immortal enemies are not uncommon scenarios. In the past, a quick console command like tcl (toggle collision) or kill could resolve the issue and let players continue their journey.

However, in Oblivion Remastered, resorting to these fixes comes at a cost. Players are reporting that even a single use of a console command flags their save game, preventing any further achievements from being earned on that character. This has led to significant frustration, as sometimes using a command feels like the only way to progress past an unexpected bug.

One user, Ashrun_Zeda on Reddit, shared their experience after getting stuck inside a rock after closing an Oblivion gate. “The first thing I do in every E.S game…is to use TCL…I knew it said ‘Use of console commands disables achievements’ but I had to try since its that or losing the loot I spent hours walking around to secure it.” Unfortunately, even after reloading a save from before using the command, they found achievements remained disabled on subsequent saves.

Another player, assassinslover, encountered an immortal highwayman NPC. “Why would you make that decision in a Bethesda game when it’s all but inevitable that people are going to get stuck and have to console command their way out of something,” they lamented. Matter of fact, bugs like Savlian Matius getting stuck, highlight why players often rely on console commands.

The rationale seems to be preventing players from easily cheating to unlock achievements using commands like tgm (god mode). But this preventative measure punishes players who just want to fix a bug.

Thankfully, the modding community has already stepped up. Several mods are available on sites like Nexus Mods that re-enable achievements even if you use console commands. For players who don’t want to use mods, the only option seems to be reloading a save from before any command was used, potentially losing hours of progress. Some players using handheld PCs have also faced unrelated technical issues, like cloud saves not syncing correctly on the Steam Deck.

So, be warned: if you’re aiming to collect all the achievements in Oblivion Remastered on PC, avoid using console commands unless you’re prepared to install a mod to counteract the restriction.